Update

If you could only read all the great blog posts I have made since the last one! The problem is they were made in my head...when I was not near a computer...or if I was near a computer, then I had homework to do or a checkbook to balance...writing on my blog just didn't rank as high....what is a girl to do?

Anyhow, I am here now! Here are some things we've been up to (in no particular order)....

Halloween 2011!
Dana had to go to class so it was just me and the kiddos. I never know what is going to happen when I head out alone with seven children. It is always an adventure! It was a little crazy....I had signed up to drop dinner off to the missionaries and of course, didn't get it done early like I wanted to. So, I was trying to get dinner made, help finish up costumes, and yelling out orders for the older ones to help get the younger ones ready.... Fun times..LOL
We were a little late, but made it to a Trunk or Treat at our church and then headed to my sis's house to do a little trick or treating.
Here are my girls at the church. I forgot the camera in the car at first, and just got these pictures right before we left. I didn't even realize until today that I neglected to get a picture of Michaela! You can see the back of her though--she was a kangaroo. In this picture she is waiting in line to get a balloon. Alex was a modern version of strawberrry shortcake. Kelley, we pinned that fabric strawberry you made to the top of her hat. It was super cute!:)

And here are my boys...a clone trooper, Wolverine, and Evan was a "Ranger" from the book series "The Ranger's Apprentice".
We participated in a homeschool gym class this fall and on one of the days we got to go on a field trip to the pumpkin patch. It was a bit chilly that day, but the kids had a blast on the many different activities.





Other big news is that Dallin turned 11 this month. I actually felt brave enough to let him invite some friends over for a party. This picture was of the cake Alex and I made just for the family. The following week we had his friends over. It was a Mario themed party and I hope I have a picture of the cake somewhere...it was actually kind of cute...(I couldn't find the camera for the longest time).



We had a MarioKart tournament first, then I sent the boys outside in the dark (it was a night party) to search for tokens (poker chips) in our yard. We had a few flashlights available, but mostly the boys ran around on their own. Along with the tokens, we also had hidden a "power box" for each boy (simply a paper box w/ mario cards in it). When they came in the boys were able to trade their tokens for prizes such as candy, tattoos, and sticky hands. It was a fun time!